The Rockford Files: Firefly’s Alan Tudyk Joins the NBC Remake

Published: March 14, 2010

A couple weeks ago, NBC announced that Dermot Mulroney would step into James Garner’s shoes for the remake of The Rockford Files. Now, they’ve found their Detective Becker.

In the original 1970’s series, private eye Jim Rockford often ended up needing help from his overworked friend on the LAPD, Sergeant Dennis Becker (Joe Santos). Rockford’s favors frequently put Becker in a bad light with his overbearing bosses and added to the cop’s heavy workload.

In the fifth season, Becker finally became a lieutenant and it was mentioned that the promotion probably would have happened sooner had he not been so closely associated with an ex-convict like Rockford.

The original Rockford Files had few regular characters so the on-camera chemistry between Garner and Santos is one of the best remembered elements of the show.

Is Tudyk a good choice for Det. Becker?

Alan Tudyk, known to TV viewers for his roles in Firefly, Dollhouse and V, will be playing Becker in the new version of Rockford. Based on the brief description, it sounds like the new Rockford/Becker relationship will be similar to the original and Tudyk’s Becker will be embarrassed by among his coworkers.

The original Becker, Santos, is 78 years old and still working. He appeared in several 2004 episodes of The Sopranos and shot a couple projects last year. Hopefully, he’ll be invited to play some kind of role in the new series.

What do you think? Is Tudyk good casting for Becker? Would you like to see Santos have a role of some kind in the new series?

Another waste of money. What is wrong with Hollywood these days. When will they learn that remakes only rarely succeed. These TV Shows were originals so why don’t they leave them alone and make their own originals. Another Show that won’t last a year.